University of Memphis students will work as systems analysts for FedEx's information technology command center as part of a new partnership between the Memphis-based shipping giant and the U of M.

UMRF Ventures, a University of Memphis Research Foundation subsidiary, said Tuesday that 45 students, mostly graduate and doctoral students, had been hired for the FedEx IT Command Center – Systems Analytic Group.

The students, primarily in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, will work with the FedEx IT command center team, using advanced software technologies to dig into operational and network performance data and look for possible system improvements. FedEx has its world technology center in Collierville.

The students are currently in training, and the center is expected to go live July 2.

It’s the third wave of a FedEx-UMRF Ventures partnership that began last summer when a student-run tech support call center opened inside the FedEx Institute of Technology. The call center now employs 50 students.

In May, another IT call center opened on the U of M’s Lambuth campus in Jackson with plans to ramp up to 50 student workers by August.

The U of M-FedEx venture is designed to to provide well-paying, part-time jobs that give students real-world professional experience. It’s also viewed as a selling point for the U of M’s graduate programs in STEM disciplines and a channel for growing the region’s technology workforce.

Dr. Jasbir Dhaliwal, chief innovation officer and graduate school dean at U of M, said in a release: “This initiative is designed to help the University recruit world-class talent from around the nation to its master’s and doctoral programs in the STEM disciplines, which will help grow the regional technical workforce in computer science, machine learning, artificial intelligence, data analytics and real-time IT algorithms."

Dhaliwal added, "Given the global shortage of talent in these technical areas, these common efforts provide a significant advantage in attracting industries of the future to our region.”

University president M. David Rudd said, “We are very thankful for FedEx’s continued overwhelming support and presence on our campuses. The FedEx IT Command Center provides another wonderful venue for our graduate students to not only gain valuable work experience but to earn wages to help make college more affordable.”

UMRF Ventures chief executive Tom Kadien added, “This is yet another example of FedEx making a positive difference on our campus and in our community.

“These graduate students will have a terrific work experience alongside FedEx professionals, and it will help them secure better jobs in the future.”